Paul Durston

Biography

I started writing in the nineties. In 2014, I gained an MA in Creative Writing at City University London. Should have done that the other way round.

I was a police officer in The Met in London for thirty years. Now I’m retired, I live on my narrowboat and explore the UK inland waterways.

Read more

I have a trilogy of psychological thrillers published by Diamond Crime. Reading them in order is recommended. To avoid spoilers, they are best described via their titles. If I Were Me (October 2022) suggests an identity problem. If We Were One (November 2023) gives a good idea as to what that identity problem is. If We Were Guilty (May 2025) suggests it’s all gone pear shaped.

My protagonist is Charlie Quinlan. She’s a cop. When on duty, she does police work. When off duty, she kills paedophiles.

My publisher’s asking me about the fourth in the trilogy…

Home » Authors » Paul Durston

Books

Click on any of the books covers below to either buy or get more information on Amazon

Danger Society - The Young Bond Dossier
Danger Society - The Young Bond Dossier
Danger Society - The Young Bond Dossier

Articles

Click on the links below to read the full article

The rise of Charlie Quinlan

The rise of Charlie Quinlan

It is with some trepidation that I write this article – my inaugural piece for Aspects of Crime – for three reasons. First, spoilers. Second, it’s personal. Third, I’ll probably end up in an argument with Charlie – and that’s not a good place to be.I think I can deal with the spoiler ...
Aspects of Crime – Favourites of 2025

Aspects of Crime – Favourites of 2025

Some reads are simply unforgettable, and I guess we all have particular favourites, the kind of books that stay with us. Every year I add a handful of titles to my, now long list, living rent free in my mind.2025 was another great one for crime fans, the genre continues to be the most ...
Muse of Fire Howard Linskey – Review

Muse of Fire Howard Linskey – Review

How do you steal a theatre? This is a theft in which William Shakespeare participates while uncovering the cause of death of a lady-in-waiting to old Queen Elizabeth – Queen Elizabeth I that is – and gaining inspiration for his yet-to-be-written plays. In today’s world, an unpopular play won’t ...
No results found.

Author Interviews

Paul Durston Interview
At the beginning of your third novel, If We Were Guilty, you say, ‘Paul Durston says that the biggest hindrance to writing crime fiction is thirty years’ service with The Metropolitan Police.’ How can that possibly be?It’s like I know too much. When first on scene at some of these nasty incidents, all you can do is your best to bring some order to the chaos. ...
No results found.